Page 46 - Zone Magazine - Issue 033 - Jan Johnston

John Creamer & Stephane K: Aural Pleasure: Sexy House In The Mix (2001)
This was a free mix, given away as a covermount accompanying the December 2001 issue of Ministry Magazine. What a great time to be a dance music fan, with Ministry, Muzik, and Mixmag all issuing free CDs every month. This mix is particularly emblematic of this sound, rushed to completion amidst the chaos of the terrorist attacks of 9/11. I always felt that the political uncertainty and darkness of those times informed the tone of the music at the time, and in retrospect it certainly seems like it was a factor. Creamer & K helped to define the dark prog sound, and this document is incredibly relistenable. KEY DARK TRACKS: Way Out West "Intensify" (Peace Division mix), Nat Monday "Waiting" (John Creamer & Stephane K mix) - one of the best fucking tracks OF ALL TIME.
https://www.discogs.com/John-Creamer-Stephane-
K-Aural-Pleasure-Sexy-House-In-The-Mix/ release/51266
Anthony Pappa: Resolution (System Recordings, 2002)
This is a compilation I slept on when it originally came out, God knows why. There were so many of the L.A. locals ("the prognoscenti", I called them) whose opinions I didn't value who kept going on and on about Resolution...maybe it was the oddball artwork, showing Pappa in (yet another!) anorak. After one quick listen I was quick to dismiss it. Coming back to it in 2020 I see that I was...mistaken. Anthony Pappa's mix is amazing. It's dark and heavy from jump, skillfully lightening things up just perfectly with the swing of Lexicon Avenue, who provide an original and a remix. KEY DARK TRACKS: Shuffle Inc "Remember New York" (Lexicon Avenue House Heads Remix), Digby & Oliver, "7 Stones", DJ Gogo "Sayna"
https://www.discogs.com/Anthony-Pappa-
Resolution/release/79499
Quivver: Transport 5 (Kinetic, 2001)
I mean, just look at the damn cover. John Graham came out throwing heat on his first ever mix compilation. I always thought of this mix as a spiritual companion to the Mark Shimmon CD reviewed above - they share a track in common, came out around the same time, and both are single-disc hammers of the dark prog sound. KEY DARK TRACKS: Dark Driver "Re-Vision 2" (Mara's Empire of Filth remix), John Creamer & Stephane K "I Love You" (Hybrid mix).
https://www.discogs.com/Quivver-Transport-5/
release/64517